3 Year Olds Hitting Puberty

Caucasian Hammer · Jan 14, 2008

Damn they blamed junk food.

Shocked doctors blame hormones in food and water for some British toddlers showing signs of breast growth.

Other pre-school youngsters even experience periods that normally start in their teens – and have temper tantrums just like adolescents.

The phenomenon is feared to have become more common since the 1990s – with doctors having to give increasing numbers of tots jabs to keep puberty at bay.

The mum of one girl, who at three was found to have the “bone age” of a nine-year-old, told how she was stunned when her daughter began acting like a ratty teen.

Hayley Holden said: “She used to slam doors and try and hit me. We’d go to supermarkets and she’d lie on the floor screaming.

“At the time, I just thought I had an ‘Omen’ child.”

She was stunned when medics told her Ellie-May – now eight – needed hormone injections to stave off puberty.

Harley Tedds, now ten, also has the painful jabs. Her mother Bernie said: “At five-years-old Harley was shaving her armpits and legs.

Bullied

“Her face and hands were appearing puffy – the nurse noticed she was developing breasts.”

Harley said: “I used to get bullied about how I look and I used to get dirty looks from people.

“You just want to be the same as your friends.”

Junk food diets could be another factor in the early onset of puberty, according to hormone expert Peter Clayton.

He said: “There might be a link between the increasing amounts of obesity in childhood and early puberty.”

The condition is examined on ITV1 at 8pm tonight in Teens Too Soon: A Tonight with Trevor McDonald Special.

MaesterB · Jan 14, 2008

This is totally believable and one of the reasons that I don't want my son or daughter eating fast food all the time. My wife doesn't cook (or hardly ever cooks) and I'm the one that always makes meals. If I forget to take something out for supper, we're going out for supper.

Mr. Ali · Jan 14, 2008

so do you just slap diapers on them again or what?

Bear · Jan 14, 2008

I've read some articles explaining that fast food has contributed to increase in hormones. Does this explain the 15-16 year old girls looking like 18-20 year olds?!

Mr. Ali · Jan 14, 2008

Bear said: ↑

I've read some articles explaining that fast food has contributed to increase in hormones. Does this explain the 15-16 year old girls looking like 18-20 year olds?!

ah, that explains it. i think in light of this new information the age of consent should go down.

Steve Juneau · Jan 14, 2008

Ooooh Ali you're treading a fine line there, fella

smirnoff · Jan 14, 2008

Mr. Ali said: ↑

ah, that explains it. i think in light of this new information the age of consent should go down.

lol. You've got your priorities straight I see.

86mcss · Jan 14, 2008

wow this is pretty interesting.

Octane91 · Jan 14, 2008

Mr. Ali said: ↑

i think in light of this new information the age of consent should go down.

and so should the drinking age?

ivwshane · Jan 14, 2008

I blame it on the milk and all the hormones they give cows to make them produce more milk.

tweakmonkey · Jan 14, 2008

MaesterB said: ↑

This is totally believable and one of the reasons that I don't want my son or daughter eating fast food all the time. My wife doesn't cook (or hardly ever cooks) and I'm the one that always makes meals. If I forget to take something out for supper, we're going out for supper.

It's not just fast food.

Consumer Concerns About Hormones in Food

What are the different hormones used now by the meat and dairy industries?

There are six different kinds of steroid hormones that are currently approved by FDA for use in food production in the US: estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, zeranol, trenbolone acetate, and melengestrol acetate. Estradiol and progesterone are natural female sex hormones; testosterone is the natural male sex hormone; zeranol, trenbolone acetate and melengesterol acetate are synthetic growth promoters (hormone-like chemicals that can make animals grow faster). Currently, federal regulations allow these hormones to be used on growing cattle and sheep, but not on poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks) or hogs (pigs). The above hormones are not as useful in increasing weight gain of poultry or hogs.

As mentioned earlier, FDA allows the use of the protein hormone rbGH to increase milk production in dairy cattle. This protein hormone is not used on beef cattle.

How are the hormones introduced into the animals?

Steroid hormones are usually released into the animal from a pellet (ear implant) that is put under the skin of the ear. The ears of the animals are thrown away at slaughter. Improper use of pellet implants in other parts of the animal can result in higher levels of hormone residues to remain in the edible meat. Federal regulations prohibit their use in this manner. Melengestrol acetate is also available in a form that can be added to animal feed.

Dairy cattle may be injected under the skin with rbGH. This hormone is available in packages of single dose injections to reduce chances of accidental overdose.

Do federal agencies monitor for the presence of these hormones in food?

Estradiol, progesterone and testosterone are sex hormones that are made naturally by animals. No regulatory monitoring of these hormones is possible, since it is not possible to separate or tell the difference between the hormones used for treatment from those made by the animal's own body. However, it is possible to detect residues of zeranol and trembolone acetate in the animal's meat. FDA has set the tolerance levels for these hormones. A tolerance is the maximum amount of a particular residue that may be permitted in or on food (see BCERF Fact Sheet #25 on Pesticide Residue Monitoring and Food Safety). The Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) monitors meat from cattle for zeranol residues. FSIS also monitors meats for DES residues from any illegal use (DES use is no longer permitted). In response to concern about cases of early puberty in Puerto Rico described below, a large number of meat samples were tested for hormone residues in the mid- to late 1980s. No zeranol or DES residues were found in the meat samples in this survey.

Do hormones remain in the milk or meat of treated animals?

The levels of naturally produced hormones vary from animal to animal, and a range in these levels is known to be normal. Because it is not possible to differentiate between the hormones produced naturally by the animal and those used to treat the animal, it is difficult to determine exactly how much of the hormone used for treatment remains in the meat or the milk. Studies indicate that if correct treatment and slaughter procedures are followed, the levels of these hormones may be slightly higher in the treated animal's meat or milk, but are still within the normal range of natural variation known to occur in untreated animals. Scientists are currently trying to develop better methods to measure steroid hormone residues left in edible meat from a treated animal.

Can steroid hormones in meat affect the age of puberty for girls?

Early puberty in girls has been found to be associated with a higher risk for breast cancer. Height, weight, diet, exercise, and family history have all been found to influence age of puberty (see BCERF Fact Sheet #08, Childhood Life Events and the Risk of Breast Cancer). Steroid hormones in food were suspected to cause early puberty in girls in some reports. However, exposure to higher than natural levels of steroid hormones through hormone-treated meat or poultry has never been documented. Large epidemiological studies have not been done to see whether or not early puberty in developing girls is associated with having eaten growth hormone-treated foods.

A concern about an increase in cases of girls reaching puberty or menarche early (at age eight or younger) in Puerto Rico, led to an investigation in the early 1980s by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Samples of meat and chicken from Puerto Rico were tested for steroid hormone residues. One laboratory found a chicken sample from a local market to have higher than normal level of estrogen. Also, residues of zeranol were reported in the blood of some of the girls who had reached puberty early. However, these results could not be verified by other laboratories. Following CDC's investigation, USDA tested 150 to 200 beef, poultry and milk samples from Puerto Rico in 1985, and found no residues of DES, zeranol or estrogen in these samples.

In another study in Italy, steroid hormone residues in beef and poultry in school meals were suspected as the cause of breast enlargement in very young girls and boys. However, the suspect beef and poultry samples were not available to test for the presence of hormones. Without proof that exposure to higher levels of steroid hormones occurred through food, it is not possible to conclude whether or not eating hormone-treated meat or poultry caused the breast enlargement in these cases.

Most meat and milk (and therefore cheese/cream/butter) is packed with hormones to help animals grow faster to make the industry more profitable. One of three zillion reasons I don't eat meat or drink milk.

smirnoff · Jan 14, 2008

Organic ftw I guess.

Torx · Jan 14, 2008

man, these little kids are growing up too fast and its always been pretty obvious. a combination of fast food, grocery meats and milk, and passed down genes make for a monstrous growth cycle in kids..

by the time i graduated from high school, the middle kids were taller than most of us, fatter, and had bigger tits.. its really creepy because these young ass girls are looking old as hell... and im getting to where i cant tell the difference.

females that look 25 are freaking 19 and 20, im like.. wtf.

86mcss · Jan 14, 2008

:-k

maybe this is why i have roid rage without taking roids?

GRP · Jan 14, 2008

tweakmonkey said: ↑

It's not just fast food.

Consumer Concerns About Hormones in Food

Most meat and milk (and therefore cheese/cream/butter) is packed with hormones to help animals grow faster to make the industry more profitable. One of three zillion reasons I don't eat meat or drink milk.

Hey, when the rest of us develop super powers, I don't want to hear you bitching. You had your chance.

Sparky · Jan 14, 2008

The girl in the original post has nice eyes. She's got some potential. :unibrow:

But yeah, I had no idea that all those food hormones had that much effect on us. I'm still waiting for my superpowers.

Log in or Sign up

3 Year Olds Hitting Puberty

Caucasian Hammer Jesus, Man.

MaesterB King of the Wicker People

Mr. Ali Junior Member

Bear Hoot!

Mr. Ali Junior Member

Steve Juneau I am teh em0z LULZ

smirnoff Curmudgeon

86mcss Devouring your Soul

Octane91 <smartass comment>

ivwshane We are all old school!

tweakmonkey Webmaster

smirnoff Curmudgeon

Torx Indigenous Nudist

86mcss Devouring your Soul

GRP oh snap

Sparky mouseketeer

Log in or Sign up

3 Year Olds Hitting Puberty

Caucasian Hammer Jesus, Man.

MaesterB King of the Wicker People

Mr. Ali Junior Member

Bear Hoot!

Mr. Ali Junior Member

Steve Juneau I am teh em0z LULZ

smirnoff Curmudgeon

86mcss Devouring your Soul

Octane91 <smartass comment>

ivwshane We are all old school!

tweakmonkey Webmaster

smirnoff Curmudgeon

Torx Indigenous Nudist

86mcss Devouring your Soul

GRP oh snap

Sparky mouseketeer

Useful Searches